THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation have protested against the government’s decision to conduct public examinations on the Attukal pongala day on March 7. In a statement issued here on Thursday, BJP councillor and party leader in the Corporation P Ashok kumar said that in spite of the fact that Pongala day had already been declared a holiday, it was a challenge to a particular community to conduct exams on the same day.
He said the delay in sanctioning the Rs 3 crore to repair the roads in the nearby areas of Attukal temple had forced many contractors from taking up the works. He said the devotees thronging the temple and nearby areas are exposed to visuals of slaughter houses exhibiting meat. The visuals will generate sorrow as well as anger among devotees.
He asked the Railways to withdraw the Express train fare fixed for the special trains to be operated from Kollam to Thiruvananthapuram in connection with Pongala and charge only the fares of passenger trains.
Ashok Kumar said that the government should take steps to treat the garbage generated after pongala in view of the crisis at Vilappilsala waste treatment plant.